Royal Watercolour Society (RWS)
From £15
Closing: 28th November ’25
Formerly known as the Contemporary Watercolour Competition, the RWS Open is one of the largest open-submission water-media exhibitions in the world, inviting artists of all backgrounds at any stage of their career to submit works on paper in any water-based media including ink, acrylic, gouache, tempera, and more. Selected works are exhibited at Bankside Gallery next to Tate Modern on the Thames Path and appear on the RWS website.
Prizes include the Michael Harding Grand Prize (£500 cash plus £500 materials), David Gluck Memorial Award (£1,000), RWS Young Artist Award (2-year Guest Membership for artists under 35 plus Michael Harding watercolour set allowing winners to exhibit in all Society exhibitions), David Benson Memorial Award (£500), Fanny Violet Shoosmith Prize (£500), plus numerous other cash prizes and material awards from sponsors including Caran d’Ache, Daler Rowney, Daniel Smith, Schmincke, and Wallace Seymour.
Exhibitors gain networking opportunities with RWS Members for potential Membership proposals, form relationships with collectors, gallerists and curators, and join a network of present and past exhibiting artists. 2026 selectors include Bob and Roberta Smith RA, Siphiwe Mnguni, Charles Williams PRWS, Akash Bhatt RWS, and Caroline Cornelius RWS.